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The science that transforms and changes the world!

23.01.2019

The student Romário Barbosa was the winner of the digital competition ‘Passionate About Science’, which the UK Embassy held in October 2018. He won a paid trip to Brasilia to meet the winner of the Newton Prize 2018.

Hello, passionate people about science and innovation!

My name is Romário Barbosa, I’m 24 years old, currently living in Jaguaribe, in the interior of Ceará state. I have always been a dedicated student and dreamer, I believe that success, whether personal or professional, is the result of the opportunities we have gathered together with our preparation. During high school (2009/2011), the best time of my life, I was a class leader and I dedicated myself to the development of socio-environmental projects, exhibiting at fairs throughout Brazil, which led me to love educational public policies and science and technology. I had the opportunity to meet several Brazilian states, participating in numerous events about science, technology and innovation, being awarded in all, from 1st to 3rd place. It is worth mentioning that I won a scholarship from CNPq Junior Scientific Initiation in a scientific competition at USP, ranking 1st in the area of ​​Biological Sciences – Ecology, with a project of reutilization of frying oil used to make cleaning products (soap, detergent, disinfectant, etc.). In addition to these national awards, I gained international recognition by the Peruvian Ministry of Education and I was invited to lecture in Castelo Branco, Portugal, by the Youth Science Association (AJC), as well as credentials to present my projects in Baku in Azerbaijan and Trujillo in Peru.

It is important to highlight that my commitment to education policies was encouraged by Marta Luciana (in memoriam), one of my teachers at the Poeta Sinó Pinheiro State School of Professional Education. She had always supported this institution, along with the Regional Coordination of Education Development (CREDE 11) and the Government of the State of Ceará, the development of projects of scientific initiation. Marta was the person who instigated me to read, to research and to develop science. It was a great inspiration.

Today, I am undergraduate in Public Management from Estácio de Sá University; I am undergraduating in Biological Sciences at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Ceará (IFCE) – Campus Jaguaribe. I am also studying about improvement in Education, Poverty and Social Inequalities in the Federal University of Ceará. I am an activist and strategic municipal leader of the “Movimento Acredito” (‘I Believe’ Movement), with a focus on political renewal, engagement and training of young leaders in politics. I am the founder of the Laboratory of Public Policies and Regional Development (LABPÚBLICA) and the Nucleus of Incentive to Research (NIPE). Because of my contributions to high school education through scientific research, I was honoured by several national and international organizations, totalizing more than 13 honorary awards.

Acting in the municipal administration of Jaguaribe (2017/2020), I advise the Secretariat for Economic Development and Tourism (SEDET), as Local Development Agent, coordinating the Jaguaribano Entrepreneur Room, fomenting entrepreneurship policies and attracting investments to generate income with focus on the promotion and sustainable economic and social development of the city, performing an ethical and committed work with the Jaguaribanos.

I believe that our society will only be fair when it is less unequal, offering equal opportunities and guaranteeing minimum conditions of dignity for the entire population.
Here’s the interview we did with him:

WHAT DID YOU TAKE TO WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PASSIONATE BY SCIENCE?

The main reason that led me to participate in the contest was in fact the passion for science. I believe that the main purpose of the UK Embassy when launching the edict was to find a person with a broad worldview and focused on the innovations that the modern world has presented to us, especially through the sciences. This goal was in line with all my dreams and future pretensions. Besides the love that was born in high school, the possibility of exchanging experiences with influential people and scientists of international renown, as well as getting to know Brasilia and experiencing a culture and a world of “transformations” different from everything that I had already experienced were reasons that also influenced the decision making to record the video and submit.

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE IN BRASILIA, ITS VISION, ITS IMPRESSIONS AND WHAT WERE THE POSITIVE RESULTS?

I have always wanted to know the official capital of Brazil, the place where everything happens, where the decisions and main public policies of our nation are thought, budgeted and put into action. Besides the unique architecture, with incredible works of the great Oscar Niemeyer, the organization of the city, cleaning of the public roads and arborization of the squares fascinated me. Many contacts were made with professionals from the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretariat of Education of the Federal District, Embassy of the United Kingdom, Brazilian Space Agency, Garden Botanic of Rio de Janeiro, Technological Development Center of UnB, etc. These contacts were of great importance because they validated my perception about the need for more specific investments for the Sciences, considering that we have a great human capital of excellence.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE IN YOUR LIFE AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE?

Science has a great influence on our daily lives to the point of being difficult to imagine what the present world would be without its contribution over time. She has been the main responsible for the technological changes that we have experienced in the last decades. Everything we have, see and get has a little science involved. That is why it is important to encourage, encourage and invest in public science and innovation policies from basic education in order to stimulate young people to become involved in these issues and become part of this process of building a more just, egalitarian and developed.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THE FUTURE?

As a true lover of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, I intend to continue contributing to my nation, through academia and public service. I aspire to Master’s and Doctoral degrees in the areas of Education and Global Development, with a special focus on public policies and how we can empower our nation to become a reference in these areas. In addition, to contribute to the expansion of our foreign policy that concerns the set of political objectives that Brazil aims to achieve in its relations with the other countries of the world.

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